John LISTER (2)

11 September 1914

ADDINGHAM – A LOCAL COMPANY FORMED – Enthusiastic Scenes

A very enthusiastic and largely attended open-air meeting was held on Saturday evening, presided over by Mr. A.V. Mason, C.C., for the purpose of asking for men willing and able to give their services for the safety and well-being of their country.

Mr. Mason said:–“We are engaged in a life and death struggle with a strong and merciless foe. Thank God, we have a strong fleet, strong enough to protect our shores and keep open the source of our food supplies, but we need a larger army to crush the power of Germany. We want young men to join the Army, to fight for their country.” Married men could be perfectly sure that their wives and families will be well looked after. Messrs. Lister and Co. had offered to keep open the place of any man who volunteered and take him back at the same wages.

Captain Mercer, who gave a splendid address, reminded them that our army was suffering loss, and men were wanted to take their places. He had served his country 48 years; therefore he was entitled to stand aside for younger men. Yet when his country needed him he was ready to say “Here am I, take me.” If it had not been for our Navy where should we have been now? We should have been where the Belgians are to-day. If German troops were to land here what would they do? They would drive our women and children before them, just as they had done in Belgium. Savages would not treat their prisoners worse than the Germans had done. He believed all the German Army had been located except three corps, which he thought were in readiness to invade this country if by any chance the German Fleet were to be successful or we were to suffer any great damage through floating mines. He had every confidence in our Navy, although it had not been in battle for a great number of years. We wanted young men to rise as one man, to be ready to fight for their country’s sake. It was the men of the country who alone can fight their country’s battles. “Join the Army now and fight for your freedom” (applause).

Mr. F.H. Humphray, J.P., said 153 men had been sworn in and he hoped he would be busy that night and every night; he did not mind if he sat all night.

Captain T.H.S. Tee also spoke, exhorting the young men to join the Army and defend their country’s honour. He announced that the company would be called the Ilkley and Addingham Company, and as far as possible the men would be placed where they wished.

The Ilkley recruits sworn in marched to Addingham, accompanied by the Ilkley Brass Band, and all attended the meeting, after which hearty cheers were given as the men came up to join. Twenty-one recruits were sworn in on Saturday; several had been sworn in earlier at Ilkley and a few on Sunday and Monday. The following is a list of men from Addingham and Bolton Abbey who have gallantly joined the army:–

Addingham–Corporal Hy. Horsman, F. Burke, W. Hall, C. Moulding, H. Spencer, H. Leech [Leach], G. Thompson, J. Hargreaves, R. Townson, F. Hartley, A. Wade, H. Wade, G. Bailey, F. Chaplin, W.H. Young, J. Lister, J.W. Fisher, F. Fisher, W. Spenceley, W. Wroe, C. Fisher, H. Tunnicliffe, J. Kettlewell, W. Waggott [Waggitt].

Bolton Abbey–N. Nelson, C. Binns, J. Mitchell, G. Robinson, W. Nelson, E. Woolston, J.T. Roberts, A. Nelson.

On Monday the streets of the village reminded one of the now defunct Club Feast (which, singularly enough, would have been on that day), as they were crowded with people. All traffic was held up, the reason being that the Addingham contingent were lined up in readiness to fall in with the full company on their way to Halifax via Keighley. It was about 4.15 when the strains of ‘Off to Tipperary’ were heard in the distance, and very soon the company of recruits for Lord Kitchener’s Army came in sight. A halt was called for refreshments and to take up the Addingham men. It was very pleasing to see such a fine sample of manhood all enrolled in their country’s call. Ilkley Brass Band headed the company from Ilkley to the outskirts of the village.

09 June 1916

ADDINGHAM – SOLDIERS' LETTERS

Mr. Flint has received the following letters in acknowledgement of parcels sent out. Wilfred Holmes writes from France:–

C. S. Moulding writes from France: – “Thanks for parcel, which was a God-send. We are out of the trenches now and are back in the country. We had a good four days march to get here, not very pleasant, the weather being scorching hot. Eventually we arrived safe and sound and found ourselves in practically the same district we were in last January. We do not spend the whole day doing nothing out here; we get a lot of manoeuvring and such like, but we are out of danger and able to have a good night’s sleep, which is a big consideration. I was sorry to hear about Fred Fisher. I saw him when he came down to the dressing station, and a very nasty knock it was. He was very plucky and even walked down to the doctor, but I thought it would be touch and go whether he got over it or not. I have had 10 days in hospital with German measles, but I feel all right again. J. Lister went home on pass this morning, so I expect he will be giving you all the latest news. When my turn is coming I don’t know.”

01 September 1916

ADDINGHAM

Private Jack Lister writes [to Mr. Flint]:– “Thanks for parcel which came at a very opportune moment and was shared out amongst the boys. We had just come out of a part of the line where it was nearly impossible to get anything to eat or drink. Ask Fisher when you see him; he will tell you what sort of a place it was, the worst we have been in for a long time. We had to run for it when we got relieved. It was out in the open all the way and Fritz did not forget to send some ‘iron rations’ after us. Glad to say we got back without losing a man, but we had to do a double for it.”

13 September 1918

ADDINGHAM – FATAL RESULT OF WOUNDS

We regret to record the death of Private J. Lister, son of Mrs. Lister, School Lane, Addingham, which took place on September 1st at the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station, France, as the result of wounds received in action. Private Lister, who was 38 years of age, joined up with Kitchener’s Army at the beginning of the War, and had been through a good deal of heavy fighting. Previous to joining up he was employed in the building trade at Ilkley.